There are calls for the size of the boards of national park authorities to be reduced and stronger democratic accountability.
The recommendations are made by the Campaign for National Parks which has launched a report called Leading National Parks into the Future: Modernising National Park Authority Governance in which the group sets out how it says the Government should change the way the national parks are managed.
Campaigners are calling for the modernisation of the current governance system which it says will unlock the full potential of national parks claiming outdated legislation was holding these places back; restricting innovation, limiting diversity, and reducing their ability to deliver for nature recovery and public health and well-being.
The report acknowledges some changes will require legislation but says others could be implemented quickly such as changes to the recruitment process, induction and training to encourage and support more people from a diverse range of backgrounds to become board members.
The Campaign for National Parks also urges greater use of online and hybrid meetings to make attendance easier together with better remuneration for board members accompanied by clear expectations about the performance and attendance expected in return.
The legislative changes called for include:
- Reducing the size of the boards to a maximum of 12–15 members.
- Strengthening democratic accountability by ensuring that NPAs have a clear role in the decision-making of Strategic Authorities thus strengthening the links between local government and national park authorities.
- Increasing the proportion of recruited members through the introduction of a new model where a third are recruited on the basis of having local experience related to the statutory purposes, a third are recruited on the basis of having national experience related to the purposes and a third are appointed by constituent local authorities taking account of the need for political balance, and a geographical spread as well as appropriate skills and expertise.
- Open recruitment decisions are made by a panel including the Secretary of State, the NPA chair and an independent member.
- The proposed model would allow people with deep local knowledge of the area to join the board without needing to become a parish councillor. Increasing the proportion of openly recruited members would increase relevant experience and diversity.
- Strengthening the statutory purposes by placing a much stronger emphasis on nature recovery, climate action and equitable and inclusive access.
- The introduction of fixed terms for all members.
- Making it easier to co-opt members.
- Reducing unnecessary bureaucratic burdens by reducing auditing requirements.
- Giving a nature and future generations a seat on the board.
The campaign group said: “The current National Park Authority model has been in place for 30 years and has delivered a huge amount since then.
“But, at a time of nature and climate crisis, we need these areas to play a leading role in halting species extinction, bringing an end to damaging practices such as burning of peatland, cleaning up our waterways and creating places which are wilder and more welcoming for everyone.
“This level of ambition requires even more courageous leadership, made possible with the right governance framework in place.”
